An American Elm is a member of the Elm (Ulmaceae) family. It is one of the tallest trees in Indiana with a height ranging up to 115'. Identification is made by its single trunk with upper limbs which fan out gracefully, forming a "vase" shape. The branch tips often droop forming a canopy. The bark is deeply grooved with flat ridges, and its girth can reach up to ten feet.
The leaves are simple, oval, alternately attached to the leaf base. They range from 3-6" in length with pointed tips and a double-toothed margin.
Elm trees first made an appearance in the Miocene period, about 40 million years ago. They are deciduous trees, which means they lose their leaves in the Winter and regrow them in Spring. Historically, economically, and aesthetically, the American Elm is one of the most important hardwood trees of eastern North America.
They are one of the most beloved trees in our country, and they can be found in the eastern United States from the Canadian border to central Florida. Indians used the tallest elms as council trees and as meeting places and sites for important events. The bark was used by Indians for canoes, utensils, and rope. Early American farmers clearing land often left Elm trees standing because their wood was too hard to cut through with early tools. George Washington took command of the Continental army and rallied the troops on Cambridge Common under what would become a famous elm tree.
But the American Elm is in peril; Dutch elm disease was first found in the United States in Ohio in 1930. It has now spread throughout North America and has destroyed over half the elm trees in the northern United Sates. Although Dutch elm disease has taken its toll, newer resistant varieties are again making the Elm a first-rate choice for planting in our neighborhoods.
Elm tree lined street in Washington, D.C.
